July 18, 1821 - the WESTERN FARMER, published in Palmyra, N.Y. reports:"A CURIOSITY. -- Among the additions just made to Dr. Mitchell's collection is a letter from the Chippewa tribe of Indians, to the Sioux, with the answer of the Sioux to the Chippewas, done during the summer of 1820. Both are executed with the point of a knife or some other hard body upon the bark of the birch tree. They are examples of PICTURE WRITING, bordering upon the symbolic or hieroglyphic, and show the manner in which the aborigines of North America communicate their ideas at the present day."

July 18, 1828 - The WAYNE SENTINEL refers to Freemasonry as a "secret combination."

July 18, 1834 - N. Y. DAILY ADVERTISER reports: "Mormon War--It is stated on the authority of a letter received at Chardon, Ohio, direct from Missouri, that a body of well armed Mormons, under their chief or prophet, Joe Smith, on attempting to cross the river into Jackson county; that a battle ensued, in which the Mormons were worsted & driven back, and their leader was wounded in the leg. It is added that he died three days after of the wound, or of amputation."

July 18, 1845 - Lucy Mack Smith obtains a copyright on her manuscript for her history of Joseph Smith and his progenitors. Seven years later Orson Pratt has the manuscript published in Liverpool England after many changes which include inserting Joseph Smiths account of the First Vision which was not mentioned in the original manuscript.

July 18, 1847.- This morning the Camp was called together and addressed by Elder Kimball. Heber C. Kimball calls the pioneer camp together to report that Brigham Young is "a very sick man." He proposes that the men should "meet together and pray and exhort each other, that the Lord may turn away sickness from our midst and from our president that we may proceed on our journey." During the meeting, Kimball proposes "that all the camp, except President Young's and 8 or 10 other wagons with brethren enough to take care of him proceed on tomorrow and go through, find a good place, begin to plant potatoes &c as we have little time to spare." The proposition is unanimously accepted.

July 18, 1869 - Brigham Young preaches: "Our religion incorporates every act and word of man. No man should go to merchandising unless he does it in God; no man should go to farming or any other business unless he does it in the Lord. No lawyer, no, hold on, I will leave the lawyers out; we do not want them, we have no use for them. . . . we have sisters here who, if they had the privilege of studying, would make just as good mathematicians or accountants as any man; and we think they ought to have the privilege to study these branches of knowledge that they may develop the powers with which they are endowed. We believe that women are useful, not only to sweep houses, wash dishes, make beds, and raise babies, but that they should stand behind the counter, study law or physic, or become good book-keepers and be able to do the business in any counting house, and all this to enlarge their sphere of usefulness for the benefit of society at large. In following these things they but answer the design of their creation."

July 18, 1875 - Apostle Orson Pratt preaches in Salt Lake City that rebaptism "seems to be a kind of standing ordinance for all Later-day Saints who emigrate here, from First Presidency down; all are rebaptized and set out anew by renewing their covenants.After his counselor Daniel H. Wells euloguzes Emmeline Free Young, Brigham Young stuns those at funeral by instructing her children and grand children not to follow his plural wife's "bad example." In her manuscript "My Father's Wives," Susa Young Gates explains that "Aunt Emmeline became addicted to morphine in the later years of her life."

July 18, 1887 - Secretary to President Taylor John Nuttall records: "Prests. Cannon and Smith went into the President's room and were with him and they alone. When President Cannon told President Taylor of Brother Joseph F's arrival and presence, and that now the First Presidency are again together for the first time since December 1884. President Taylor said, though scarcely conscious, 'I feel to thank the Lord.' He appeared to recognize Prest. Smith."

July 18, 1892 - First verified letter from First Presidency authorizing Apostle George Teasdale, president of Mexican colonies, to perform polygamous marriage there.

July 18, 1894 - Wilford Woodruff gives a blessing Cyrus H Wheelock "who was Approaching Death by a Cancer on the Tongue & in the mouth." Wheelock was the man who smuggled guns to Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage Jail fifty years earlier.

July 18, 1897 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his diary: "I received a copy of the Pioneer Programme [for the 50th anniversary celebration of the arrival of the pioneers] and read some of it, from which I felt outraged in my feelings and in the evening expressed myself vigorously as to the manner I have been treated. I am one of the first and oldest pioneers which with my position in the church Should entitle me to some consideration. Not one of my sons or any of my family have been asked to take any part in the pioneer proceedings, whilst the Clawsons and their friends and associates are into everything."

July 18, 1900 - With permission from First Presidency First Counselor George Q. Cannon, Apostle Matthias F. Cowley performs plural marriage ceremonies for Cannons son Hugh J. Cannon and nephew John M. Cannon.

July 18, 1907 - Incorporation of church's Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. As successor to church sugar companies formed since 1889, U-I Sugar dominates western sugar economy but puts enormous financial drain on church resources during its early decades.

July 18, 1936 - CHURCH SECTION photograph of LDS youth conference in Germany with Apostle Joseph F. Merrill in front of Swastika banner of Nazi Party. This is intentional association of visual symbols, since Aug. 7, 1937 issue also prints photograph of church president Heber J. Grant seated in front of Swastika banner at LDS meeting in Frankfurt.

July 18, 1963 - President David O. McKay is visited by astronaut Edward White. McKay quotes the words to "If You Could Hie To Kolob" to astronaut White. White is so impressed he asks for a copy of the words to take with him to read and study at home.

July 18, 1974 - AFRICA TODAY reports that BYU singing group "Brigham Young University Sounds" toured South Africa. The usual name of the group, "Sounds of Freedom" was changed for this trip. The white apartheid government of South Africa thought the word "freedom" might be too politically charged, since it is normally associated with the struggle for black majority rule. The group performed with the South African Defense Forces Band and proceeds from the concerts benefitted the South African Border Relief Fund and the Rhodesian Terrorist Victims' Relief Fund. According to AFRICA NEWS, "Both funds were set up by whites to support military efforts against African [black] guerrilla movements seeking majority rule."